University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1999 Lithic tradition change in a contact context as demonstrated by an artifact assemblage from Espiritu Santo de Zuniga, Victoria, Texas (41VT11) Robert C. Schweitzer The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Schweitzer, Robert C., "Lithic tradition change in a contact context as demonstrated by an artifact assemblage from Espiritu Santo de Zuniga, Victoria, Texas (41VT11)" (1999). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 2856. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/2856 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University ofIVIONTANA Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. ** Please check "Yes" or "No" and provide signature Yes, I grant permission ^ No, I do not grant permission __ Author's Signature Date 5 Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. LITHIC TRADITION CHANGE IN A CONTACT CONTEXT AS DEMONSTRATED BY AN ARTIFACT ASSEMBLAGE FROM ESPIRITU SANTO DE ZUNIGA, VICTORIA, TEXAS (41VT11) By Robert C. Schweitzer presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts The University of Montana 1998 Approved by: airperso Dean, Graduate School 5 - 13-99 Date UMI Number: EP36001 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT UMI EP36001 Published by ProQuest LLC (2012). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 -1346 Schweitzer, Robert c., Master of Arts, December 1998 Anthropology Lithic Tradition Change In a Contact Context as Demonstrated by an Artifact Assemblage from Esplritu Santo de Zuniga, Victoria, Texas (41VT1 \ Committee Chair: Dr. William Prentiss Abstract This study Interprets the archaeological lithic artifact assemblage recovered from 41VT11, the presumed second site of the Mission Esplritu Santo de Zuniga, In Victoria County, Texas. Specifically, chlpped-stone tools and debltage, recovered from a scatter of artifacts, designated Feature 3, are contextualIzed using a functional lithic analysis in conjunction with an understanding of historical provience and regional archaeology. If these lithic artifacts are from a protohlstoric context, then they should form an Integral part of the pattern of the early Spanish colonial period within the historical record of south Texas. These Interpretations and patterns clarify the understanding of the cultural dynamics occurring in south Texas during the Initial period of contact (1720-1750 A.D.) between native Americans and colonial Spaniards. 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT II TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................... iii LIST OF FIGURES Iv LIST OF TABLES AND APPENDICES V CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Thesis Outline 4 CHAPTER 2; THESIS MODEL AND EXPECTATIONS 5 Regional HIstorv Cultural Contact and New World Mission Studies 9 The American Pandemics 13 Regional HIstorv and Lithic Technological Organization 15 CHAPTER 3; DESCRIPTION OF 41 VTl 1 FEATURE 3 EXCAVATION AND INVESTIGATIONS 18 Guerrero Points 23 CHAPTER 4; LITHIC ANALYSIS 28 ChlDoed-stone Tool Analvsis 29 Debltage Analysis 32 Discussion 39 CHAPTERS; CONCLUSIONS 42 BIBLIOGRAPHY 47 APPENDIX: 52 Ill LIST OF TABLES Page TABLE 1; Debltaoe Size Grade Distributions 37 TABLE 2: Exoerimental Debitaae Distributions 37 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX 1; Tool Inventory for Feature 3 52 APPENDIX 2: Debitaae Analvsis Data from Feature 3 Units 54 APPENDIX 3: Flake Summaries bv Unit 58 APPENDIX 4; Debitaae Data Summaries bv Size Grade 58 Chapter 1 introduction The powerful culturally transformative processes that occur when two or more distinct cultural groups closely interact are studied by archaeologists to understand how and why cultures change. These processes include the selective integration of new material culture and social organization into preexisting cultural traditions. The dynamics of culture change are evident in the sites where this contact is just beginning. The Spanish colonial mission sites, in the Texas borderlands, are a primary resource for archaeological and historical data about these forces of change. The process of the Spaniards converting the natives to Catholicism and organizing them into local labor brought many native groups under direct control of the missions and presidios. All groups involved were exposed to different subsistence strategies and another material culture. The natives organized by the Spaniards in the mission systems were particularly influenced by both the Spanish material culture and their manner of defining social roles and organization. However, elements of indigenous traditional culture, such as lithic technology, persisted for a time after the exposure to new materials and methods, Lithic assemblages from historic contexts are an important resource for archaeologists. Stone tools continued to be used in contexts where metal was available because of cultural habit (Whittaker and Fratt 1984: 11, I Hester 1989b; 220). Recent excavations of a scatter of bone and llthlcs designated Feature *3 at the Mission Esplritu Santo de Zuniga, Texas (41 VTl 1) provide a lithic assemblage from an area which, when investigated with comparable data from the region and period, permit an examination of some the patterns found in historic mission lithic assemblages. To make comparisons with collections from other sites of the period it must first be established that this lithic assemblage was produced and used during the period of the Mission's occupation ,1726-1748 (Walter 1997: 2). The lithic forms are compared and contrasted with those of known mission sites of the region and time period to understand how they form part of the regional pattern. The chipped stone tools are subjected to use-wear analysis to establish evidence for the manner of use and possible functions. This use-wear analysis reveals their role in the historic economy of the mission's population. The historic economy of a group informs us of subsistence patterns and allows for inferences into possible social organization. This study also compares the 41 VTl 1 lithic assemblage with lithics of the late prehistoric period, the Toyah horizon dating A.D. 1200 to A.D. 1500[Cuney and Perdiz projectile point typesKHester 1995; 444). Contrasts with the forms and functions of antecedent lithic traditions provide evidence about their role in the mission's economy. This comparison helps establish whether the 41 VTl 1 lithic assemblage is of pre or post contact origin. The provenance of the Feature 3 lithic assemblage is demonstrated by the feature's stratigraphy and the cultural association of artifact forms demonstrated by other known mission sites. 3 The functional differences of the 41VIII lithics from preceding forms allows for hypotheses about the patterns of dynamic processes changing the culture and economy of the 41 VTl 1 population. The hypothesis proposed is that, the end of a mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyle, replaced by the sedentary organization imposed by the Spaniards, caused a shift in functional requirements for the 41 VTl 1 lithics. The lithics recovered from Feature 3 are used to test this model of economic change. This study states that a pattern should be found in the Feature 3 lithic assemblage and seeks to understand how it can integrated within the model of culture change found at other south Texas contact sites The lithic use-wear analysis and the formal comparison with other mission assemblages with historical records will test the hypothesis. The degree to which the hypothesis is supported by the historical and archaeological data shall determine whether the hypothesis is accepted or rejected. The hypothesis is reintegrated with the current understanding of the south Texas archaeology to establish this lithic assemblage's place in the history of the region. Thesis Outline An outline of the hypothesis, expectations, and historical background for the study context is presented in Chapter 2. This background consists of both regional Texas archaeology and general New World contact studies. These are used to develop the model used in testing the hypothesis. The establishment of the site is discussed. This establishes the historic context in which the Feature 3 lithic artifacts are analyzed and interpreted. The archaeological excavations and investigations in which this study's artifacts were recovered are reported in Chapter 3. A current understanding